Duck bats strike Vandy ace for sixth straight win

Sunday

Feb 26, 2012 at 12:01 AM

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Sam Selman’s first trip through the Oregon batting order was nothing short of perfect.

Then, after retiring Duck shortstop J.J. Altobelli again to lead off the fourth inning, the Vanderbilt pitcher was suddenly stricken with “Steve Blass disease,” and Oregon rode the left-hander’s wild ride to a 7-2 nonconference baseball win that clinched the three-game series at Hawkins Field on Saturday.

It was the sixth straight win for the Ducks (6-1), who finish the series at 10 a.m. today before jetting back for their home opener against Portland at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Selman’s first symptom was a full-count walk to Aaron Payne, who then stole second. Four straight balls to Aaron Jones, and four more to Ryon Healy, loaded the bases. After striking out Shaun Chase, Selman’s wild pitch to Kyle Garlick allowed Payne to score the tying run, and the merry-go-round had started.

A balk, another walk, an error and Scott Heineman’s single — the Ducks’ first hit — later, Selman’s struggles finding the plate were done, and so were the Commodores (1-5).

Oregon added single runs in the fifth, seventh and eighth to back the three-hit, six-inning start of freshman Jake Reed (1-0), who struck out five in his second appearance. Tommy Thorpe and Joey Housey finished with three innings of three-hit scoreless relief.

Oregon softball blanks Oklahoma State

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — Jessica Moore pitched a six-hitter and Kailee Cuico drove in three runs to lead No. 19 Oregon to an 8-0 softball victory over No. 21 Oklahoma State at the Cathedral City Classic on Saturday.

Moore (5-2) then came back to strike out nine over 6?2/3 innings in a 10-6 win over Northwestern that left the Ducks 3-0 for the tournament with two more games today and 6-2 overall.

Cuico capped her day with a three-run homer in the top of the seventh that gave her six RBIs for the two games. Oregon did most of its damage during a seven-run third inning highlighted by Christie Nieto’s pinch-hit two-run single.

In the win over Oklahoma State, Courtney Ceo, Janie Takeda, Kaylan Howard and Cuico each had two of the Ducks’ 11 hits.

Relay titles leads Duck track at MPSF meet

SEATTLE — Both Oregon’s men and women won the 4x400-meter relays at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championships to lead the UO track and field teams.

Brianne Theisen won the 400 meters (54.11 seconds), Amber Purvis won the 60 (7.44) and Johnathan Cabral won the men’s 60-meter hurdles (7.90).

In a pair of runner-up performances, Jordan Hasay broke her 3,000 school record (9:03.95) and Theisen hers in the 60-meter hurdles (8.34).

Dakotah Keys was second in the heptathon with 5,660 points, a personal best.

Beavers blown out by San Diego, 13-2

SAN DIEGO — San Diego rocked three Oregon State pitchers for 16 hits and 12 earned runs in a 13-2 baseball victory on Saturday afternoon at Cunningham Stadium.

Along with Friday’s 18-2 loss to San Diego State, the 21st-ranked Beavers (4-3) have given up the most runs in back-to-back nonconference games since 2001 when OSU opened its season with three straight losses at Cal State Northridge by a combined score of 52-28.

Catcher Dillon Haupt, batting ninth for the Toreros (4-2), hit his first home run, and he and Kris Bryant each went 3-for-5. Michael Conforto and Jake Rodriguez each had three hits for the Beavers, who were held to eight singles.

Starter Dan Child (0-1), who lasted 3?1/3 innings, took the loss for OSU.

Oregon lacrosse hosts Cal in home opener

The Oregon lacrosse team will play its first home game of the season today when the Ducks take on California at 1 p.m. at Papé Field.

The game will also be the league opener for Oregon (1-2), which was picked to finish second in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation in the preseason coaches poll.

The Ducks struggled on their season-opening road trip to the East Coast last week, beating La Salle in between losses to Temple and Towson.

Admission is free with the donation of two non-perishable food items to benefit FOOD for Lane County.

Generals force Game Three in playoff series

Christian Merritt scored the winning goal with 10 seconds to play to lift the Eugene Generals to a 3-2 NORPAC junior hocky victory and into a 1-1 series tie with the Vancouver Victory on Saturday night at Lane County Ice Arena.

Julian Herrera’s goal with 6:04 to play had tied the score for the Generals, who will play at Vancouver in the deciding third game at 1 p.m. today.

Matt Hopersberger had given Eugene a 1-0 lead in the first period.

Biola beats Beacons in bottom of the ninth

LA MIRADA, Calif. — Biola University’s Leslie Larson singled home Kayna Lamb in the bottom of the ninth for a 3-2 victory over Northwest Christian to complete a doubleheader sweep on Saturday.

Natalie Parker drove in two runs for the Bruins (6-6), who also took the first game by a 7-2 score. CeCe Luster drove in three runs for Biola in the opener.

Laynee Bevans went 3-for-3 and drove in both runs in the opener for the Beacons (2-12), who have lost eight straight.

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